Lotus Letters

Hi Mom – My trip to Hawaii has been like no other. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful the islands are and how much of a treat this vacation has been to my soul. I have been able to relax, explore, discover new things, people and places. And I have also been able to stay active while taking in all of the beautiful sites on Oahu. I found beginner hikes to Manoa Falls, Waimea Valley and of course Diamond Head Summit which is literally steps away from the Lotus Hotel. The hotel also has free bikes that I have taken out pretty much daily now. I have had a bunch of fun cruising around the cute neighborhood surrounding the Lotus. It’s also been great having Kapiolani Park as a front yard because I can easily jog or walk a few laps around the paved trail which borders the park.

Dear Mom – I arrived in Honolulu a few days ago and have been exploring the beauty that Hawaii has to offer. My hotel is in this fantastic location tucked just outside of Waikiki in a sleepier neighborhood on the Gold Coast. I am still close to the action of it all but it’s much more peaceful over here. The hotel does have amazing views of the Waikiki skyline at night though! All the glittering lights are so pretty to see from the hotel. The beaches in this area are so pretty, slower paced and have more local residents than Waikiki. Kaimana Beach is just outside of the hotel and is a cute, small slice of heaven that I have been enjoying daily. It is right next to some pretty sites like the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial which was built in the form of an ocean water public swimming pool

As I was sitting on the balcony of my room, I turned my gaze to beautiful Diamond Head that lay just outside the hotel.  The sunlight was starting to peak over the side of the crater which created a beautiful glowing backdrop to my routine morning coffee.  The land seemed so peaceful and quiet.  At the base of Diamond Head lay a sprawling lush park called Kapiolani Park.  Early morning risers were already bustling with activity from walking, jogging, tennis and bike riding.  There were also many unpacking surfboards and heading out to the great blue ocean for their morning routine. This scene was calming yet invigorating – inspiring.  All of the activity at my doorstep beckoned me to participate.  So, I did.  For the rest of my time in Honolulu I spent my mornings (after my coffee of course) exploring the green spaces just outside the hotel.  I took